As evoluções tecnológicas juntamente com o surgimento de novas necessidades dos usuários resultaram em diversos novos tipos de métodos construtivos. O conceito de industrialização das edificações vem evoluindo com velocidade, e estes novos sistemas construtivos surgiram como alternativa aos sistemas tradicionais buscando entre outros, melhor desempenho térmico, energético, lumínico, acústico e de sustentabilidade. Diante desta crescente demanda por inovação, a ABNT (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas) passou a estudar um conjunto de normas para estabelecer critérios de desempenho ao validar os novos sistemas construtivos de edificações habitacionais. Isto se concretizou com a publicação da Norma de Desempenho (ABNT NBR 15575/2013), que estipula parâmetros para desempenho dessas construções e métodos detalhados de acordo com o desempenho desejado. Simultaneamente, as simulações computacionais evoluíram, permitindo menor custo de experimentação, são capazes de antecipar resultados antes somente possíveis após testes físicos com protótipos e também a encontrar alternativas de soluções também quanto à eficiência energética e ao conforto dos usuários. Entre alguns programas existentes para simulação de desempenho térmico, está o EnergyPlus, o qual foi utilizado para este estudo, tendo como principal objetivo avaliar o desempenho térmico de painéis de light steel frame pré-fabricados utilizados na fachada e nas vedações internas de um sistema construtivo modular composto por estrutura metálica, e piso e a laje de concreto. Para o desenvolvimento do estudo, foi utilizado como modelo base uma residência térrea, configurada por ambientes independentes, que virão a compor uma residência inteira onde serão inseridos os painéis de light steel frame pré-fabricados. As 16 tipologias de painéis foram estudadas em três diferentes cidades do Brasil, sendo elas situadas nas regiões Nordeste, Sudeste e Sul e em dias típicos de verão e inverno, utilizando os recursos de simulação computacional (EnergyPlus) possibilitando a análise comparativa de desempenho térmico de cada tipologia ao serem submetidos a diferentes temperaturas e regime de insolação. A maioria das tipologias de painéis apresentam resultados favoráveis apenas para a cidade de Fortaleza, e desfavoráveis para as cidades de São Paulo e Curitiba, onde somente a última tipologia de painel atendeu os requisitos mínimos de desempenho para todas as cidades. Este estudo não contempla dados experimentais ou ensaios físicos. / Technological developments coupled with the emergence of new user needs resulted in several types of new construction methods. The concept of building industrialization has been evolving with speed, and these new construction systems have emerged as an alternative to traditional systems. These alternative systems seek better thermal performance, energy efficiency, light performance, acoustic and sustainability, among other things. Faced with this growing demand for innovation, ABNT (Brazilian Technical Standards Association) went on to study a set of rules to establish performance criteria to validate the new construction systems of residential buildings. These criteria were established with the publication of Performance Standard (NBR 15575/2013), which provides detailed parameters for performance of these buildings and provides methods according to the desired performance. At the same time, computer simulations have evolved, allowing lower cost of experimentation. These simulations are able to anticipate results which were previously only possible after physical tests of prototypes and also are able to find alternative solutions for energy efficiency and comfort of users. Among some existing programs for simulating thermal performance is the EnergyPlus, which was used for this study, with the primary objective of evaluating the thermal performance of prefabricated light steel frame panels. These panels were used in the facade and the internal seals of a building system composed of modular steel structure and floor and the concrete slab. To develop the study, a one-story residence was used as a base model, set by independent environments, composed entirely of the prefabricated light steel frame panels. The 16 panel types were studied in three different cities in Brazil, located in the Northeast, Southeast and South, and on a typical day of summer and winter. Using the computer simulation resources (EnergyPlus) enabled comparative analysis of thermal performance of each type when subjected to different temperatures and insolation regime. Most panel types have favorable results only in the city of Fortaleza, and unfavorable in the cities of São Paulo and Curitiba, whereas only the last panel type met the minimum performance requirements for all cities. This study does not include experimental data or physical tests.

O presente trabalho objetivou desenvolver e implementar, em escala laboratorial, uma rotina experimental com base em Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (IRMN) de modo a verificar seu potencial como metodologia não-destrutiva aplicável à inspeção quali- e quantitativa de água e hidrocarbonetos líquidos aprisionados no interior de células de núcleos-colméia utilizados na confecção de painéis-sanduíche compósitos estruturais de grau aeronáutico. Tentativas foram também realizadas no sentido de se observarem e caracterizarem danos por amassamento de núcleos-colméia, assim como de se detectar a presença de resina polimérica na forma sólida, visando, desta feita, verificar o uso do IRMN na inspeção de componentes previamente reparados e/ou contendo excesso de resina por falha do processo de manufatura. Concluiu-se que IRMN é uma poderosa ferramenta para a detecção e a quantificação de líquidos puros e compostos, ricos em hidrogênio, contidos nas células de núcleos de amostras extraídas de painéis-sanduíche compósitos. O potencial do IRMN na identificação, e, portanto, na discriminação entre os diversos fluidos se mostrou bastante promissor, desde que se empreguem ferramentas de processamento e análise computadorizada de imagens a partir de programas computacionais de reconhecimento de padrões via redes neurais artificiais e/ou sistemas com base em conhecimento. A técnica de IRMN utilizada neste estudo não permitiu a captura de imagens de resina polimérica sólida, nem mesmo quando à esta foram adicionadas cargas de elementos intensificadores de sinais de RMN, tais como ferro e gadolíneo. Danos no núcleo-colméia tão pequenos quanto 1,0 mm de profundidade e 1,8 mm de diâmetro foram clara e inequivocamente imageados e delineados pela técnica IRMN, desde que estivessem permeados por fluido hidrogenado (ex. água). A quantificação de líquidos nos núcleos-colméia por intermédio de ferramentas computacionais simples (processadores e analisadores de imagens) foi muito bem sucedida no caso dos líquidos com relativamente alto ponto de fulgor, pois as massas fluidas se mantiveram constantes por períodos de tempo significativamente longos no interior das células analisadas. / This work intended to develop and implement in laboratorial scale an experimental routine funded in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NMRI) in order to verify its potential as a non-destructive methodology for quali- and quantitative inspection of liquid water and hydrocarbons entrapped in honeycomb core cells utilized to build up aeronautical grade structural composite sandwich panels. Attempts were also carried out to observe and characterize crush damage of honeycomb core, as well as to detect solid polymer resin towards the use of NMRI to assess previously repaired components and/or containing in excess resin amount due to manufacturing process faults. It has been concluded that NMRI is a powerful tool in detecting and quantifying hydrogen-rich pure and compound liquids contained in core cells of composite sandwich samples. The NMRI potential in identifying and, therefore, discriminating several fluids has shown very promising as long as computed image processing and analysis tools are employed from pattern recognition software via artificial neural networks and/or knowledge-based systems. The utilized NMRI technique failed in imaging solid polymer resin, even when the latter was loaded with NMR-signal intensifier elements such as iron and gadolinium. Honeycomb core damages as small as 1.0 mm in depth and 1.8 mm in diameter were clearly and unambiguously imaged and delineated by the NMRI technique since they were permeated with hydrogenated fluid (ex., water). The quantification of liquids in honeycomb cores by means of simple computational tools (image processor and analyzer) was very successful in case of relatively high flash point fluids, insofar as their masses remained constant within the analyzed cells for significantly long periods of time.

No presente trabalho trata-se de um estudo da contribuição de painéis pré-moldados de fechamento no enrijecimento da estrutura principal, com relação às ações laterais. Inicialmente são apontados os critérios correntes de dimensionamento dos painéis pré-moldados de fechamento sem a consideração da interação destes com a estrutura principal. Em seguida, são desenvolvidas simulações numéricas em três exemplos com o objetivo de avaliar tal efeito. Estes exemplos englobam as seguintes situações: painel isolado, estrutura de um pavimento e uma estrutura de vários pavimentos. Os principias parâmetros analisados são os deslocamentos na estrutura principal, os esforços nas ligações e as tensões nos painéis. Os resultados obtidos mostram a importância da contribuição dos painéis no enrijecimento da estrutura principal. Na estrutura de um único pavimento analisada, a consideração de interação possibilita a passagem de situação em que os efeitos globais de segunda ordem são relevantes para aquela em que tais efeitos são desprezíveis. Para a estrutura analisada de vários pavimentos, a consideração de interação resulta em significativas economias de materiais apontando para economia da ordem de 20% na estrutura principal. Com base nos resultados, conclui-se que os painéis de fechamento pode ser incorporados numa estratégia de projeto, possibilitando economia na estrutura principal. / This work presents a study of the precast panels contribution in the main frame stiffness, subjected to lateral loads. At first, currents criteria of panels design are analyzed, without considering the interaction with the main frame. After that, three examples are calculated using numerical simulation to evaluate this effect. These examples include the following situations: a single panel, an one-story frame and a multi-story frame. The parameters are: the frame displacements, the connections efforts and the panels tensions. The results show the magnitude of the panels contribution. In fact, to the one-story frame, it was possible to pass from a flexible structure where the second-order effects must be taken into account to an other one where this effects could be neglected. For the multi-story frame analysis, the panels contribution produced an effective material economy of about 20% (and consequent cost reduction). Basing on these results, one can conclude that the infill panels can be included in the design strategy with economy for the structural system.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo selecionar material genético de Eucalyptus spp. para produção de painéis compensados e avaliar a qualidade da madeira dos painéis confeccionados a partir de lâminas de Eucalyptus, combinadas com Pinus e virola, tendo em vista a obtenção de informações sobre o potencial do material avaliado. Para a pesquisa, um teste clonal foi instalado no delineamento estatístico blocos casualizados, composto por 29 clones e seis repetições, totalizando 174 parcelas com seis plantas cada, em espaçamento 3 m x 3 m. A bordadura foi realizada em dupla fileira com material de Eucalyptus dunnii. Os caracteres silviculturais diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP), altura total de plantas (ALT) e volume de madeira (VOL) foram avaliados aos 48 meses após o plantio. A estimativa dos parâmetros genéticos foi realizada com base no procedimento estatístico REML/BLUP. Após a confecção dos painéis compensados, foram realizados os testes da qualidade da madeira, avaliando as propriedades físicas (teor de umidade e densidade básica) e mecânicas (cisalhamento, flexão paralela e flexão perpendicular) dos painéis. Variações genéticas significativas foram observadas entre os clones, para os caracteres silviculturais avaliados nas condições ambientais do experimento, havendo possibilidade de obtenção de ganhos pela seleção. Cinco dos clones avaliados apresentaram potencial para serem aproveitados no programa de melhoramento genético da empresa e em plantios comerciais da região onde se encontra o município de Palma Sola – SC. O clone com melhor desempenho foi o USP/IPEF 68 (E. dunnii), com valores superiores em quase todos os critérios. Os painéis produzidos com miolo de Pinus e virola, onde, nestes casos, apenas a capa e a contracapa eram de lâminas de Eucalyptus, apresentaram bom desempenho, quando comparados com os painéis constituídos, exclusivamente, de lâminas de Eucalyptus. Destaque para os painéis com miolo de virola, no teste de flexão perpendicular, e para os com miolo de Pinus, no teste de flexão paralela. Os painéis constituídos 100% de Eucalyptus não contribuíram para o aumento significativo nos valores de MOE e MOR paralelo e perpendicular. Entretanto, os valores foram superiores em clones mais promissores, como o USP/IPEF 68 e USP/IPEF 64. Os resultados da resistência da linha de cola e flexão estática paralela e perpendicular obtidos neste estudo, estão adequados às normas utilizadas. Conclui-se, portanto, que o material USP/IPEF 68 (E. dunnii) é recomendado para confecção de painéis compensados devido suas qualidades inerentes à madeira. / Selection of Eucalyptus genotypes for the production of compensated panels. This work aimed to select genetic material of Eucalyptus spp. for the production of compensated panels and to evaluate the quality of the wood of panels made from Eucalyptus slides, combined with Pinus and virola, in order to obtain information on the potential of the evaluated material. For the research, a clonal test was installed in the randomized complete block design, consisting of 29 clones and six replications, totaling 174 plots with six plants each, spaced 3 m x 3 m. The border was made in double row with Eucalyptus dunnii material. The silvicultural characteristics diameter at breast height (DBH), total plant height (ALT) and volume of wood (VOL) were evaluated at 48 months after planting. The genetic parameters were estimated based on the statistical procedure REML/BLUP. After the panels were made, the wood quality tests were performed, evaluating the physical properties (moisture content and basic density) and mechanical properties (shearing, parallel bending and perpendicular bending) of the panels. Significant genetic variations were observed among the clones, for the silvicultural characters evaluated in the environmental conditions of the experiment, being possible to obtain gains by selection. Five of the clones evaluated had potential to be used in the breeding program of the company and in commercial plantations of the region where the municipality of Palma Sola - SC is located. The best performing clone was USP/IPEF 68 (E. dunnii), with values above almost all criteria. The panels produced with Pinus core and virola, where, in these cases, only the cover and the back cover were Eucalyptus slides, presented good performance when compared to panels consisting exclusively of Eucalyptus slides. The panels with the virola core, the perpendicular flexion test, and those with the Pinus core were tested in the parallel flexure test. The panels constituted 100% of Eucalyptus did not contribute to the significant increase in the MOE and MOR values parallel and perpendicular. However, the values were higher in more promising clones, such as USP/IPEF 68 and USP/IPEF 64. The results of the glue line resistance and parallel and perpendicular static flexion obtained in this study are adequate to the standards used. It is concluded, therefore, that USP/IPEF 68 (E. dunnii) material is recommended for the manufacture of plywood panels due to their inherent qualities in wood.

Guadua angustifolia Kunth (Guadua) is a bamboo species native to South and Central America that has been widely used for structural applications in small and large-scale buildings, bridges and temporary structures. Currently, its structural use is regulated within seismic resistant building codes in countries such as Peru and Colombia. Nevertheless, Guadua remains a material for vernacular construction associated with high levels of manual labour and structural unpredictability. Guadua buildings are limited to two storeys due to the overall flexibility of the slender and hollow culms and its connection systems. Its axial specific stiffness is comparable to that of steel and hardwoods, but unlike wood, Guadua’s hollow structure and lack of ray cells render it prone to buckling along the grain and to transverse crushing. As a result, Guadua’s mainstream use in construction and transformation into standard sizes or engineered Guadua products is scarce. Therefore, this work focussed on the development of standardised flat industrial structural products from Guadua devising replicable manufacturing technologies and engineering methods to measure and predict their mechanical behaviour. Cross-laminated Guadua panels were developed using thermohydro-mechanically modified and laminated flat Guadua strips glued with a high performance resin. Guadua was subjected to thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) treatments that modified its microstructure and mechanical properties. THM treatment was applied to Guadua with the aim of tackling the difficulties in the fabrication of standardised construction materials and to gain a uniform fibre content profile that facilitated prediction of mechanical properties for structural design. Densified homogenous flat Guadua strips (FGS) were obtained. Elastic properties of FGS were determined in tension, compression and shear using small-clear specimens. These properties were used to predict the structural behaviour of G-XLam panels comprised of three and five layers (G-XLam3 and G-XLam5) by numerical methods. The panels were assumed as multi-layered systems composed of contiguous lamellas with orthotropic axes orientated at 0º and 90º. A finite element (FE) model was developed, and successfully simulated the response of G-XLam3 & 5 panels virtually loaded with the same boundary conditions as the following experimental tests on full-scale panels. G-XLam3 and G-XLam5 were manufactured and their mechanical properties evaluated by testing large specimens in compression, shear and bending. Results from numerical, FE predictions and mechanical testing demonstrated comparable results. Finally, design and manufacturing aspects of the G-XLam panels were discussed and examples of their architectural and structural use in construction applications such as mid-rise buildings, grid shells and vaults are presented. Overall, this research studies THM treatments applied to Guadua in order to produce standardised engineered Guadua products (EGP), and provides guidelines for manufacturing, testing, and for the structural analysis and design with G-XLam panels. These factors are of key importance for the use of Guadua as a mainstream material in construction.

O estudo abordado nesta tese relaciona-se ao comportamento de painéis com abertura constituídos por alvenaria estrutural de blocos. A motivação pelo tema teve como base um estudo anterior, em que o autor verificou a grande influência dos lintéis no comportamento do sistema de contraventamento de edifícios em alvenaria estrutural. O aspecto mais geral do estudo ora desenvolvido foi avaliar, de forma minuciosa, o efeito de acoplamento causado pela presença de lintéis no painel. Para tanto, foram realizados ensaios com modelos físicos reduzidos na escala 1:3, cujos resultados foram avaliados de modo qualitativo, sem o compromisso de determinar correlações com protótipos. Várias configurações de painéis isolados e painéis com abertura representativa de porta e janela foram ensaiadas, de modo a se avaliar o efeito de acoplamento gerado pelo lintel. Além disso, foram avaliados, também, os efeitos de diferentes intensidades de pré-compressão e de armaduras construtivas no comportamento do painel. A análise dos resultados experimentais foi dividida em duas etapas: aplicação da pré-compressão e aplicação da força horizontal. Na primeira foram verificadas as deformações axiais dos painéis e determinados os correspondentes módulos de deformação longitudinal. Na segunda etapa foram avaliados a rigidez e os efeitos da não-linearidade de forma geral, as deformações ocorridas nos lintéis e nas paredes de cada modelo, assim como em regiões críticas para o surgimento de fissuras, a exemplo dos cantos da abertura e da base das paredes. Além disso, foram realizadas modelagens numéricas de alguns painéis, utilizando-se o método dos elementos finitos, e os resultados obtidos foram comparados com os experimentais. Adicionalmente, foram avaliados alguns modelos simplificados na fase linear do comportamento dos painéis com abertura de porta, assim como na fase não-linear do painel isolado. / The present thesis deals with the behavior of block masonry walls with openings. The development of the work was motivated bya a previous study, where the author verified the large influence of the lintels on the behavior of the bracing system of structural masonry buildings. The main aspect of the study was the meticulous evaluation of the coupled effect provided by the lintels. Many experimental tests on third-scale models were carried out to analyze the phenomenon in a qualitative way, without the compromise of determinging correlations to the prototypes. Several configurations of isolated walls and panels with door and window openings were tested, evaluating the coupling action provided by the lintels. The effects of different pre-compression values and the presence f constructive steel bars were include on the study. The analaysis of the experimental results was performed in two stages: application of the vertical force before the application of horizontal force at the top. In the first stage axial strains were measured with the corresponding assessment of the longitudinal Young modulus of the panels. Te second stage included the stiffness computation and the evaluation of the non-linearity in a general sense, the strains on the lintel and the walls, and the critical cracking areas, such as wall's bases and corners. Experimental results were compared with those obtained with Finite Element modeling of the panels. Finally simplified models were presented for the linear phase of walls with openings and the non-linear behavior of the isolated panels.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal avaliar a utilização dos resíduos gerados pelo processamento mecânico das madeiras amazônicas Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum, Mezilaurus itauba, Erisma uncinatum, Tachigali myrmecophyla e Qualea paraensis na produção de painéis aglomerados de alta densificação. Os painéis foram produzidos com massa específica nominal de 850 kg.m-3, espessura nominal de 15,7 mm e adesivo fenol-formaldeído. Foram adotados 16 tratamentos, analisados por meio de quatro experimentos consecutivos, os quais avaliaram as propriedades físico-mecânicas dos painéis produzidos a partir de cada espécie e de uma mistura entre todas elas em partes iguais, o efeito da remoção dos finos no processo de produção, a influência da alteração do teor de adesivo de 8% para 11% sobre as propriedades dos painéis e a utilização da proporção de 50% de mistura com resíduos de lâminas de Schizolobium amazonicum. A partir dos painéis produzidos, foram confeccionados corpos-de-prova para a realização de ensaios físicos (massa específica, teor de umidade, absorção de água e inchamento em espessura) e mecânicos (flexão estática - MoR e MoE, ligação interna, arrancamento de parafuso e dureza Janka), conduzidos conforme a norma ABNT NBR 14810-3 (2006b). Foi realizada, também, a avaliação do perfil de densidade dos painéis pela metodologia de atenuação de raios X. Observou-se que os painéis aglomerados manufaturados com os resíduos das madeiras Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum e Tachigali myrmecophyla apresentaram, de maneira geral, propriedades tecnológicas superiores às demais espécies, atendendo um ou mais requisitos mínimos indicados pela norma ANSI A208.1 (2009) para painéis de alta densidade (classificação H-1) e painéis destinados a produção de pisos (classificação PBU). A remoção dos finos na produção dos painéis resultou em tendência de aumento dos valores de MoR, MoE, ligação interna e dureza Janka e contribuiu para reduzir a AA2h, AA24h e IE2h, além de formar perfis de densidade mais homogêneos. O aumento do teor de adesivo de 8% para 11% resultou em tendência de redução dos valores de AA2h, AA24h, IE2h e IE24h e aumento dos valores de dureza Janka, bem como interações significativas para o MoE e ligação interna, além de formar perfis com picos mais elevados de massa específica nas faces e aumento dos valores de massa específica no miolo. A utilização da proporção de 50% de mistura com partículas de Schizolobium amazonicum resultou em tendência de aumento dos valores de MoE e AP topo e redução dos valores de dureza Janka. Houve interação significativa entre os fatores para as propriedades AA24h, IE2h, IE24h, MoR e ligação interna, resultando em tendência de aumento dos valores obtidos. A mistura de 50% originou perfis com picos mais elevados de massa específica nas faces. Os painéis aglomerados manufaturados com resíduos de madeiras amazônicas apresentaram potencial de utilização e se revelaram uma alternativa viável do ponto de vista tecnológico para o aproveitamento de resíduos. / The purpose of this research was to evaluate the potential use of Amazonian wood residues from the mechanical processing of Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum, Mezilaurus lindaviana, Erisma uncinatum, Tachigali myrmecophyla and Qualea paraensis in the high density particleboard production. The panels were produced with nominal density of 850 kg.m-3, nominal thickness of 15.7 mm and phenol formaldehyde adhesive. Sixteen treatments were analyzed by four consecutive experiments, which evaluated the physical and mechanical properties of the boards produced from the six species and an equal mix of all six, the effect of removing the fines in the production process, the influence of the change of 8% adhesive content to 11% on the properties of the panels and the use of the mixture proportion of 50% with veneers residues of Schizolobium amazonicum. Their performance was evaluated with respect to their physical (apparent density, moisture content, water absorption and thickness swelling) and mechanical (static bending - modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture, internal bond, direct screw withdrawal and Janka hardness) properties, conducted according to ABNT NBR 14810-3 (2006b). The evaluation of the density profile of the panels was also performed by X-ray attenuation methodology. It was observed that the particleboard manufactured with wood residues from Caryocar villosum, Hymenolobium excelsum and Tachigali myrmecophyla presented, in general, technological properties superior to other species, according one or more minimum requirements specified by ANSI A208.1 (2009) for high density panels (H-1 grade) and panels for the production of floors (PBU grade). The removal of the fine in the production of panels resulted in a tendency to increase the values of MoR, MoE, internal bond and Janka hardness and contributed to reduce the WA2h, WA24h and TS2h, besides formed more homogeneous density profiles. The increase from 8% adhesive content to 11% resulted in a tendency to reduce the values of WA2h, WA24h, TS2h and TS24h and increased Janka hardness values, as well as presented significant interactions for the MoE and internal bond, besides formed profiles with higher peak density in the faces and lowest density values in the core. The utilization of 50% mixture proportion with Schizolobium amazonicum particles resulted in a tendency to increase the values of MoE and direct screw withdrawal from the edge and reduced the values of Janka hardness. There were significant interactions between the factors for WA24h, TS2h, TS24h, MoR and internal bond properties, resulting in a tendency to increase the values. The mixture of 50% originated profiles with higher peak density in the faces. The particleboard manufactured with Amazonian wood residues showed potential use and viable alternative from a technological point of view for residues recovery.

Painéis sanduíche são largamente utilizadas em diversas aplicações de engenharia e o estudo de suas propriedades é fundamental para a ampliação de sua utilização. Neste trabalho, foram estudados painéis sanduíche com núcleo de poliuretano e faces de fibra de vidro fabricados pelo processo de laminação contínua. Na primeira configuração, as faces do painel foram fabricadas com manta de fibra de vidro e resina poliéster, com 39% de teor de vidro em massa e espessura de 1,9 mm. Na segunda configuração, as faces do painel foram fabricadas com tecido de fibra de vidro e resina poliéster, com 54% de teor de vidro em massa e espessura de 1,2 mm. Realizou-se o cálculo das propriedades mecânicas de cada compósito no programa MECH-Gcomp. As propriedades do núcleo foram retiradas, inicialmente, da literatura. Então, foi possível realizar a avaliação dos painéis pelo método dos elementos finitos utilizando elementos sólidos, comparando o comportamento dos dois tipos de painéis em relação aos carregamentos de compressão de núcleo, de compressão longitudinal e de flexão. Foram realizados ensaios nas faces isoladas e também nos painéis sanduíche completos. Para as faces, os ensaios foram de teor mássico de fibra de vidro, tração, compressão e cisalhamento Iosipescu, conforme as normas ASTM D5630, D3039/D3039M, D6641/D6641M e D7078/D7078M, respectivamente. Já para os painéis sanduíche, foram realizados os ensaios de compressão de núcleo, compressão longitudinal (edgewise) e cisalhamento do núcleo utilizando flexão, conforme as normas ASTM C365/C365M, C364/C364M e C393/C393M, respectivamente. Após os ensaios, foram calibrados os modelos do MEF, permitindo que os mesmos possam calcular outras configurações similares de painel sanduíche. Foi utilizado o programa Autodesk Simulation Composite Design para realizar a validação do ensaio de cisalhamento do núcleo. Concluiu-se que a análise de elementos finitos foi confiável em representar de forma realista o comportamento dos painéis sanduíche e a redução na espessura das faces do painel pode ser compensada com o aumento da sua resistência mecânica e rigidez por meio do aumento no teor mássico de reforço e trabalhando com a orientação do mesmo. / Sandwich panels are widely used in a variety of engineering applications and the study of their properties is fundamental for the expansion of their use. In this work, we studied sandwich panels with polyurethane core and fiberglass faces manufactured by the continuous lamination process. In the first configuration, the panel faces were made of fiberglass and polyester resin, with 39% glass content by mass and 1.9 mm thickness. In the second configuration, the panel faces were fabricated from fiberglass fabric and polyester resin, with 54% glass content by mass and 1.2 mm thickness. The mechanical properties of each composite were calculated in the MECH-Gcomp software. The properties of the core were initially taken from the literature. Then, it was possible to evaluate the panels by the finite element method using solid elements, comparing the behavior of the two types of panels in relation to the core compression loads, edgewise compression and bending. Tests were performed on the faces and also on the complete sandwich panels. For the faces, the tests were fiberglass mass content, tensile, compression and Iosipescu shear, according to ASTM D5630, D3039/D3039M, D6641/D6641M and D7078/D7078M, respectively. For sandwich panels, core compression, edgewise compression and core shear using bending tests were performed according to ASTM C365/C365M, C364/C364M and C393/C393M, respectively. After the tests, the FEM models were calibrated, allowing them to calculate other similar sandwich panel configurations. It was used Autodesk Simulation Composite Design software to validate the core shear test. It was concluded that the analysis of finite elements was reliable in realistically representing the behavior of the sandwich panels and the reduction in the thickness of the panel faces can be compensated with the increase of its mechanical resistance and stiffness by increasing the mass content of reinforcement and working with the orientation of the same.

The wall design equations available in major codes of practice (e.g. AS3600 and ACI318) are intended for the design of normal strength concrete load bearing walls supported at top and bottom only. These codes fail to recognise any contribution to load capacity from restraints on the side edges. They also fail to give guidance on the applicability of the equations to high strength concrete. Further, they do not consider slender walls. In many situations walls have side edges restrained and are composed of high strength concrete with high slenderness ratios. The recognition of these factors in the codes would result in thinner walls and consequently savings in construction costs. In this thesis, the focus is on the development of a design formula and new design methods for axially loaded reinforced concrete wall panels. The design of walls having side restraints and being composed of high strength concrete is given particular attention. An experimental program has been undertaken to obtain data for the derivation of applicable formulae and to verify the analytical methods developed herein. Note that, the test results and other data available in published literature have also been used to develop the design formula. The formula encompasses effective length, eccentricity and slenderness ratio factors and is proposed for normal and high strength concrete walls simply supported at top and bottom only (one-way) and simply supported on all four sides (two-way). The major portion of the experimental program focuses on a series of normal and high strength concrete walls simply supported at top and bottom only (one-way), and simply supported on all four sides (two-way) with eccentric axial loading. The behaviour of the test panels is noted, particularly the difference between the normal and high strength concrete panels. A Layer Finite Element Method (LFEM) is used as an analytical tool for walls in two-way action. The LFEM gives comparable results to the test data and the proposed design formula. As part of the research, a program named WASTABT has also been developed to implement a more accurate analytical method involving the instability analysis of two-way action walls. WASTABT is proven to be a useful design tool in situations where the walls have (i) various reinforcement ratio in one or two layers; (ii) composed of normal or high strength concrete; (iii) various eccentricity.

Radiant heating and cooling has a reputation of increasing the comfort level and reducing the energy consumption of buildings. The main advantages of radiant heating and cooling are low operational noise and reduced fan power cost. Radiant heating and cooling has been supplied in several forms, including floor heating, ceiling heating and cooling, radiant panels and façade heating and cooling. Among them, façade heating and cooling is the most recently developed system. This dissertation provides a comprehensive study of several technical issues relative to radiant heating and cooling systems that have received little attention in previous research. The following aspects are covered in this dissertation: First, a heat transfer model of mullion radiators, one type of façade heating and cooling, is developed and verified by measured performance data. The simulation demonstrates that the heating or cooling capacity of mullion radiators is a semi-linear function of supply water temperature and is affected by the thermal conductive resistance of mullion tubes, the room air temperature, the supply water flow rate, and the outside air temperature. Second, the impact of the positions of radiators on energy consumption and thermal comfort is studied. This dissertation compares the heating load and comfort level as measured by uniformity of operative temperature for two different layouts of radiators in the same geometric space. The air exchange rate has been identified as an important factor which affects energy saving benefits of the radiant heating systems. Third, the infiltration and the interaction of infiltration and mechanical ventilation air to produce moisture condensation in a radiantly cooled office are examined. The infiltration of the studied office is also explored by on-site blower door measurement, by analyzing measured CO2 concentration data, and through modeling. This investigation shows the infiltration level of the studied office to range between 0.46 and 1.03 air changes per hour (ACH). Fourth, the integrated sensible heating and cooling system is simulated and compared with a single duct variable air volume (VAV) system. The results show that, at the current infiltration level, the studied sensible heating and cooling system with an integrated active desiccant ventilation unit consumes 5.6% more primary energy than a single duct VAV system; it would consumes 11.4% less primary energy when the system is integrated with a presumed passive desiccant ventilation unit.